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We are all, I am sure, aware of the objective and subjective reasons for division between Roman Catholic Church on one side and Eastern Orthodox Church on the other.

For nearly 1000 years learned and faithfull on both sides have said everything that had to be said regarding issues affecting the unity, as far as Theology and Ecclesial Politics are concerned, so there is no need to produce arguments for any position, because that will just produce more contra-arguments, and that will place my post in a situation of autodestruction.

The real question is NOT how much two sides are willing to compromise, but IS IT possible to compromise at all?

We are talking about dogmatic differences. I am, for one, sure that Roman Catholics are sure of their position and so are Orthodox of their. Please NOTE, so are Orthodox.

I will not go and try to explain, because, as I said before, we are all very aware of arguments and contra-arguments.

So what to do? In my honest oppinion, the re-unification is in Gods hands. Literally. That is to say, that as long as Rome goes one way and East goes the other there is NO ONE on this planet who can change the minds of our Clergy but God (To Him Glory now and ever and unto eternity).

This is not a bad news. Not at all. I am very happy to leave this problem to God (nothing new there).

May God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit (who proceeds from the Father eternally and from the Son in one time) help our Holy Church to overcome stupidity of time and make Lord's prayer regarding the unity of the Flock come to realization.

So, as to answer on the question in the title, yes, in time Unity will be reached, I am sure of this.

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Orthodoxia i thanatos.

Our Most Blessed and Pure Theotokos and all the Saints pray to God for us, and firstly me, a sinner.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

....and in ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC CHURCH....

Sadly, I agree - although we must note that the Holy Father has made continual overtures to the East, and calls all Roman Catholics to the jewels of the eastern Tradition.

The only theology I read is Patristic, so is pre-schism. What kind of Catholic does that make me? I support the Office of St Peter (although I would reather seem it reflect Christ more than Constantine); I 'lean' towards the Orthodox view of Original Sin rather than the Western Augustinian, and likewise with regard to deification.

In short I agree with the idea that the West tries too hard to define its mysteries (and invariably gets into trouble) whilst the East can go the other way, into a sort of obscurantism.

Thomas

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In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)
http://www.theveil.net

Predrag,

Certainly there is no desire in the Western Church to eliminate Eastern customs and traditions. Several times, John Paul II has urged Eastern Catholics who have adopted Latin traditions to go back to their heritage.

You will find that the doctrinal "differences" with the Orthodox are mostly differences in vocabulary and/or point of view. If you do a search on "filioque" for example, you will find that Orthodox and Catholics both agree that the Father is the generating principle in the Trinity. They just express it differently.

As a matter of fact, since the Great Schism, Orthodox authorities and Catholic authorities have agreed more than once to re-unite in principle, notably at the Council of Florence. This was ultimately rejected by the lower Orthodox clergy and the people, not for doctrinal reasons, but for reasons of resentment. I believe, this is probably the great obstacle even today.

So as you say, it is something that will be a grace of God, in his own time and manner. We must join Christ who prayed "that they may be one."

Robert

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Ma mission [est] de faire aimer le bon Dieu comme je l'aime. (Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus) My mission is to have God loved as I love Him.